Communication wall receptacle cap retaining system and method

• US 7,470,858 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Kim, Frank Chin-Hwan, McNutt, Patrick S., Phung, Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US11/428,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20070012474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 174/66, 174/67, 174/135, 174/55, 174/56, 174/57, 220/241, 220/242, 439/135, 439/136, 439/137, 439/147
• US Class Current: 174/67
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/623 Casing or ring with helicoidal groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45

Abstract

To assist in searching, the following abstract includes a receptacle system used to keep a receptacle cap secure through use of an enhanced retaining strap with its associated wall plate when the receptacle cap is unscrewed. The enhanced retaining strap is a separate individual component and is separably coupled to the rest of the receptacle system so that if it is pulled with sufficient force, the strap will break free from the rest of the receptacle system before associated members such as gaskets are damaged or loosened.

Claims

1. For a cable having an end with a plug and a first cap, a system comprising:

a wall plate configured for mounting to a wall;

a receptacle having an interior receptacle passage therethrough, the receptacle further including an engagement portion at least in part extending forward of the wall plate, the interior receptacle passage configured to receive the plug of the cable therewithin, the engagement portion being configured to removably receive the first cap, the receptacle having a first portion extending about the engagement portion;

a jack positioned at least in part within the interior receptacle passage and coupled to the receptacle to engage the plug when received within the interior receptacle passage;

a gasket sized and shaped to be located between a first portion of the receptacle and the wall plate to provide a fluid tight seal therebetween;

a second cap configured to be removably coupled to the engagement portion; and

a strap having a first end portion separably coupled to the receptacle and disconnected from the gasket, and a second end portion coupled to the second cap to permit rotation of the second cap relative to the strap.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the receptacle includes an extending portion and the strap includes a pair of spaced apart stop members with the extending portion positioned therebetween such that the stop members engage the extending portion and retain the extending portion therebetween upon application of force to the strap tending to rotate the strap relative to the receptacle, thereby inhibiting rotation of the strap relative to the receptacle.

3. For a cable having an end with a plug and a first cap, a system comprising:

a wall plate configured for mounting to a wall;

a receptacle having an interior receptacle passage therethrough, the receptacle further including an engagement portion at least in part extending forward of the wall plate, the interior receptacle passage configured to receive the plug of the cable therewithin, the engagement portion being configured to removably receive the first cap, the receptacle having a first portion extending about the engagement portion;

a jack positioned at least in part within the interior receptacle passage and coupled to the receptacle to engage the plug when received within the interior receptacle passage;

a gasket sized and shaped to be located between a first portion of the receptacle and the wall plate to provide a fluid tight seal therebetween, the gasket made from a first material;

a second cap configured to be removably coupled to the engagement portion; and

a strap having a first end portion separably coupled to the receptacle and disconnected from the gasket, and a second end portion coupled to the second cap to permit rotation of the second cap relative to the strap, the strap made from a second material different from the first material.

4. A system for use with a wall plate and a cable having a plug, comprising:

a receptacle having an interior receptacle passage therethrough the receptacle further including an engagement portion at least in part positionable to extend forward of the wall plate, the interior receptacle passage being configured to receive the plug of the cable therewithin, the receptacle further including an extending portion.

a gasket sized and shaped to be located between a portion of the receptacle and a wall plate to provide a fluid tight seal therebetween;

a cap configured to be removably coupled to the engagement portion; and

a strap being a seperate piece from the gasket, the strap being configured to be coupled to the receptacle and coupled to the cap, the strap including a pair of spaced apart stop members with extending portion of the receptacle positioned therebetween such that the stop members engage the extending portion of the receptacle and retain the extending portion therebetween upon application of force to the strap tending to rotate the strap relative to the receptacle, thereby inhibiting rotation of the strap relative to the receptacle.

5. A system for use with a wall plate and a cable having a plug and a first cap;

comprising;

a receptacle having an interior receptacle passage therethrough, the receptacle further including an engagement portion at least in part extending forward of the wall plate, the interior receptacle passage configured to receive an plug of the cable therewithin, the engagement portion being configured to removably receive the first cap, the receptacle including a projecting member;

a gasket sized and shaped to be located between the receptacle and the wall plate;

a second cap configured to be removably coupled to the engagement portion; and

a strap having a first end portion toward a first end of the strap and disconnected from the gasket, the strap having an aperture in the first end portion sized to receive the projecting member therein to couple the strap to the receptacle, the aperture being spaced away from the first end of the strap to define an end section sized and made from a material such that the projecting member severs the end section upon a first tension being applied to the strap which is insufficient to break the projecting member, the strap having a second end portion coupled to the second cap.

6. A system for use with a wall plate configured for mounting to a wall, a cable having an end with a first connector and a first cap, and a second connector couplable to the first connector, a system comprising:

a receptacle having an interior receptacle passage, the receptacle further including an engagement portion at least in part extending forward of the wall plate when mounted to the wall plate, the interior receptacle passage configured to receive the first connector of the cable at least in part therewithin and the second connector at least in part therewithin, the engagement portion being configured to removably receive the first cap;

a gasket sized and shaped to be located between the receptacle and the wall plate when the receptacle is mounted to the wall plate to provide a fluid tight seal between the receptacle and the wall plate, the gasket made from a first material;

a second cap configured to be removably coupled to the engagement portion; and

a strap having a first end portion coupled to the receptacle and disconnected from the gasket, and a second end portion coupled to the second cap, the strap made from a second material different from the first material.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the receptacle includes an extending portion and the strap includes a pair of spaced apart stop members with the extending portion positioned therebetween such that the stop members engage the extending portion and retain the extending portion therebetween upon application of force to the strap tending to rotate the strap relative to the receptacle, thereby inhibiting rotation of the strap relative to the receptacle.

8. A system comprising:

a wall plate;

a receptacle mounted to the wall plate, the receptacle including a project member,

a gasket located between the receptacle and the wall plate;

a cap removably couplable to the receptacle; and

a strap coupled to the receptacle and disconnected from the gasket, and coupled to the cap, the strap having a first end portion toward a first end of the strap, the strap having and aperture in the first end portion sized to receive the projecting member therein to couple the strap to the receptacle, the aperture being spaced away from the first end of the strap to define an end section sized and made from a material such that the projecting member servers the end section upon a first tension being applied to the strap which is insufficient to break the projecting member, the strap having a second end portion coupled to the cap.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the receptacle includes an extending portion and the strap includes a pair of spaced apart stop members with the extending portion positioned therebetween such that the stop members engage the extending portion and retain the extending portion therebetween upon application of force to the strap tending to rotate the strap relative to the projecting member of the receptacle, thereby inhibiting rotation of the strap relative to the receptacle.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the receptacle includes a flange, the projecting member being attached the flange and extending forwardly therefrom, and the extending portion being attached to the flange and extending laterally therefrom.

11. A system for use with a wall plate, the system comprising:

a receptacle including an extending portion;

a gasket mounted on the receptacle for sealing with the wall plate;

a cap removably couplable to the receptacle; and

a strap being a separate piece from the gasket, the strap coupled to the receptacle and to the cap, the strap including a pair of spaced apart stop members with the extending portion positioned therebetween such that the stop members engage the extending portion of the receptacle and retain the extending portion of the receptacle therebetween upon application of force to the strap tending to rotate the strap relative to the receptacle, thereby inhibiting rotation of the strap relative to the receptacle.

12. A system for use with a wall plate, comprising:

a receptacle having a flange and a stud projecting from the flange;

a gasket positioned on the receptacle adjacent the flange for sealing with the wall plate;

a cap removably couplable to the receptacle; and

a strap having a first end portion disconnected from the gasket, the strap first end portion having an aperture sized to receive the stud therein to couple the strap to the receptacle, and a second end portion coupled to the cap.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the first end portion of the strap terminates at a first end of the strap and the aperture is spaced away from the first end to define an end section between the aperture and the first end sized and made from a material such that the stud severs the end section upon a first tension being applied to the strap which is insufficient to break the stud.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the stud projects forwardly from the flange, and the receptacle includes an extending portion attached to the flange and extending laterally therefrom, and wherein the first end portion of the strap includes a pair of spaced apart stop members with the extending portion positioned therebetween such that the stop members engage the extending portion and retain the extending portion therebetween upon application of force to the strap tending to rotate the strap on the stud, thereby inhibiting rotation of the strap relative to the receptacle.